Illinoisand Delaware posted declines of 2.7% in October from a year ago, thedata show. Rhode Island and New Jersey were down 0.6% and Alabama wasoff 0.3%, CoreLogic says.

Other research firms have also reportedstrengthening prices. September prices were up 3% year-over-year in 20leading cities, Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index reported lastweek.

Fewer homes for sale are helping prices. In October, thesupply of homes for sale was down 22% from year earlier levels, theNational Association of Realtors says. In October, the nation had just a5.4-month supply of existing homes for sale.

Realtors generallyconsider a six-month supply to be a balanced market, favoring neitherbuyers nor sellers. In some parts of the country, especially in parts ofCalifornia and Arizona, for-sale inventories are much tighter. That'sspurring price increases.